Welcome to our Governors’ section.

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

We have also provided a Register of Governor Interests and an Annual Statement of Issues for your information.

Information relating to the Aspire MAT Board and Trust Members are detailed on the Aspire MAT website

Foundation:

Hilary Povey

Sarah Hobbs

Staff:

Lindsey Fisher

Sarah Morrell

Richard Tomlinson (Head) ex officio

Parent:

Victoria Burton

Co-opted:

Judith Johnson (Chair)

Alexander Alcock (Vice Chair)

Paul Bendelow (Vice Chair)

Sarah Fisher

Sophia Hammond

Dan Jones

The Local Governing Body – Roles and Activities
The Local Governing Body (LGB) of East Bridgford St. Peter’s CofE Academy consists of governors who, with the exception of the headteacher, are residents of the communities of the catchment in which the academy is situated. They are either appointed according to the skills they bring to the LGB or are nominated to represent various stakeholder bodies including parents, staff and church (Foundation), There are, from time to time, Associate Members who act in a more limited capacity. The Governors at the academy are very active, undertaking most of their work through a structure of formal committees and informal groups. All the Governors at St. Peter’s are highly motivated and committed to the ethos, standards and success of the academy, most having specific, individual responsibilities. Governors recognise their legal, ethical and community responsibilities to the whole school, including the children, staff and parents. They also recognise the special position that being a Church school brings and the links between church and school are very strong. The LGB meets each term and considers business items submitted from the academy, multi-academy trust, local authority and from members of its own Governing Body. The latter demonstrates that it has an active, not a passive, approach to school governance. When necessary it will convene special meetings to consider specific or urgent items not appropriate to a scheduled termly meeting.

LGB Attendance 2024/2025

Standards of Governance
Governors are fully aware of the obligations and responsibilities that their roles bring, and are constantly looking to improve the quality, standards, efficiency and effectiveness with which they fulfil these responsibilities. The constantly changing nature, law and requirements of school governance are recognised to place an obligation on school governors to be adequately trained and kept up to date. Governors at St. Peter’s are committed to training, both in areas of a general nature and related to their specific areas of expertise and interest.

Communication with Parents and the Community
The Local Governing Body is currently seeking ways to improve communication between the LGB and the wider school community. These will be discussed at a future meeting and published here.

The LGB is made up of a number of parents (including the Chair and Vice Chairs) which allows for increased dialogue between the LGB and the Headteacher. This also allows for more presence at school events.

There are important links from the Governing Body to the PTFA, with the Chair and a Trustee also being members of the LGB.

The Governing Body also has strong links with the Parish Council.

Church Links
The academy, and its Local Governing Body, prides itself in being a Church of England School. It has close links with its local church from which it takes its name. The LGB actively encourages the Christian nature of the school, and the understanding of other religions, within its day-to-day activities. The academy has enjoyed support from the Priest-in-Charge of the Parish and has been encouraged to use the church as part of its worship and learning whenever possible.

Link Governor visits

Governors at St. Peter’s are involved not only in issues of school governance, but are actively involved in the whole school curriculum. Governors undertake regular visits to the school. Although historically these have been of a curriculum lead, they are now focussed on areas highlighted in the School Development Plan and are used as a further mechanism to provide vital evidence for the Senior Leadership Team to drive the School Improvement strategy.

The outcomes of these visits are reported to the termly meetings of the LGB. Governors are assisted in their visits by guidance produced by the LGB aimed at maximising the benefits to both Governors and teaching staff.

Local Governing Body Committees and Roles
 

Finance and Site Sub-Committee (FSC)

FSC was formed in 2024 and is chaired by the LGB Vice Chairs. This committee meets every term with a broad remit covering finance, health and safety and risk management issues, and its membership has the expertise to fulfil these roles. Key headlines are reported back to full LGB at their meeting. This process reduced duplication and provided a more seamless support to the academy and its headteacher.

People, Strategy and Culture Sub-Committee (PSC)
The PSC sub-Committee was also formed in 2024 in order to provide a higher level of monitoring and accountability, and to reduce duplication. This committee also meets every term with a broad remit covering HR, staffing issues and the strategic direction of the academy, and its membership has the expertise to fulfil these roles. Key headlines are reported back to full LGB at their meeting. .

Policies and Procedures

The LGB is responsible for producing a number of policies that relate to various aspects of the academy and its activities. These policies are academy specific policies, and compliment those produced by the Aspire MAT for pan-MAT implementation. All relevant policies and standards may also be found in the Key Information section of the website.

The LGB undertakes regular reviews of specific curriculum policies, including Religious Education, Worship and Social & Sex Education. The full LGB is responsible for the governance input into and monitoring of the SDP and SEF.

Scheme of Delegation

A Scheme of Delegation from the Aspire MAT defines the functions and responsibilities that are delegated from the MAT Board to the LGB. For Ofsted rated 'Outstanding' and 'Good' academies this is very broad, giving considerable autonomy to the academy, whilst showing its accountability to the MAT.

The Scheme of Delegation is available here.

Websites for Governors

DfES (Department of Education and Science)

Governorline (professional support to governors

Aspire MAT Trustees Reports and Annual Accounts